New ballet brings storybook to stage

Beth Fowler School of Dance will present an original production, "A Storybook Ballet," March 15 through 17.

DeKALB – The Beth Fowler Dance Company of Genoa and St Charles will present a new original dance production, "A Storybook Ballet," March 15 through 17 at The Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb.

As the curtain opens, young Marie is getting ready for bed. As she falls asleep, four fairies fly into the room and spin her bed. She falls into a magical dream where the storybook grows to 10 feet high. Snow White and her friends step out of the book, and the bedroom is transformed into the forest where Snow White meets the Seven Dwarfs and is frightened by the Jealous Queen before being saved by her Prince.

Delighted by the happy ending, Marie turns the page and is greeted by The Little Mermaid and her sisters. Marie’s bedroom turns into an undersea scene, where The Little Mermaid is saved by her Prince from the Sea Witch’s evil spell.

Marie turns pages twice more to bring out the characters of Disney's "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast" to tell their stories.

Auditions were held to determine principal roles. Performing as Marie is Mary Rose Fair of Sycamore. Rachael Kollins of Hampshire performs as Snow White and Miranda Cordes of DeKalb as the Jealous Queen.

Haley Young of Genoa is The Little Mermaid. The Sea Witch is Hannah Smith of Sycamore and the Prince is Ben Rabe of Genoa.

Leo Ayala of Elgin will play Aladdin, Brooke Fowler of Kingston will play Jasmine and Jenna Soldati of Geneva is the Genie.

Performing in "Beauty and the Beast" are Rachel Olsen of Genoa as Belle, Larry Pool of Rockford as The Beast, Zach Bohn of Sycamore as Gaston, Brandon Fowler of Kingston as the Prince and Kelly Bolander as Mrs. Potts.

Dance company soloists are Alicia Aldaz of St. Charles, Cara Birschbach of Geneva, Keeley Sawyer of Hampshire and Cassie Steffey of Geneva.

Familiar Disney songs will delight audiences of all ages. Choreographers are Beth Fowler, Miranda Cordes, Hannah Smith and Samantha Gaul. The elaborate scenery sets are being created and built by Sahin Sahinoglu of Northern Illinois University. Madlyn Steffey and her committee are creating the costumes.

Children and adult ticket prices for regular and premium seating (first five rows) range from $25 to $27. Discounts are available for nonprofit groups of 15 or more.

Tickets are reserved seating and are available online at www.egyptiantheatre.org or 815-758-1225 or at the door one hour before each performance.